· October, 2006

Stories about Health from October, 2006

Pakistan: Dengue

  31 October 2006

Dengue in Pakistan is becoming a problem. Sajjad on the increasing number of people taken ill. “The outbreak of “Dengue Fever” in parts of Pakistan is now becoming a countrywide epidemic. Quite a few bloggers have posted about it including one who lost his cousin to a dengue infection.”

Lebanon: Political Uncertainty and Men

  31 October 2006

Many Lebanese blogs are reflecting the internal political bickering that is creating an atmosphere of uncertainty about the future of the country. Most of the posts in this weeks review are bleak with little hope for the future. This is something that is very unusual for a people who take...

Barbados: Sensationalism

  28 October 2006

Eemanee criticises Barbados Free Press for demonstrating a “knack for sensationalism” in calling the Chairman of the Barbados Family Planning Association an “abortions provider”: “Let's not forget that the BFPA provides a range of needed services, such as pap smears, men's health services as well as Room 246, a drop-in...

Dispatch from Uganda

  27 October 2006

The tenuous peace talks in Juba, Sudan, between the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) continue for a third month, with each side accusing the other of non-compliance with the cessation of hostilities agreement. However, complete breakdown of the talks was averted when the Government of Southern...

Nicaragua: Total Abortion Ban

  27 October 2006

Jennifer Woodard Maderazo covers the controversial (and unanimous) decision by Nicaragua's parliament to implement a total ban on abortion. Costa Rican blogger Julia Ardón has reprinted a public letter signed by the Nicaraguan Association of Writers (ANIDE) [ES] demanding that exceptions be reinstated for women whose lives are threatened by...

Voices from Central Asia and the Caucasus

  26 October 2006

Alpine Pastures – Jailoo (c) Christopher Herwig, www.herwigphotos.com It's time to strike our tents (or Kyrgyz yurts in the Jailoo in this case), the summer is over (although in Kazakhstan's capital Astana there's snow even in August…). Which also means more time for Central Asia buffs to spend in front...

Armenia: Healthcare

  25 October 2006

Onnik Krikorian recounts some horror stories from the Armenian medical system, saying that seeking medical care in Armenia might be more dangerous than Russian roulette.

Africa: using soccer to fight AIDS

  25 October 2006

All African Bazaar writes about a non-profit organization, which uses soccer to fight AIDS in Africa, “Founded by Tommy Clark,MD, Grassroot Soccer became a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization in 2002. Dr. Clark conceived of the idea after having played soccer professionally in Zimbabwe. During that time he witnessed first hand...

Belarus: Persecution Continues

  24 October 2006

Former presidential candidate is in jail and on hunger strike; 60-year-old woman is sentenced to two years for requesting a psychiatric exam for the country's president – and this isn't all of it, writes TOL's Belarus Blog.

Martinique, France: Stereotypes of the French

  23 October 2006

Pondering stereotypes of the French, Martiniquan Le Blog de Moi writes (Fr): “When I arrived in the States with a group of people from all over France, … our recruiter explained to us very seriously that because of complaints by American students, he encouraged us to bathe and to change...

China: Botched jobs

  21 October 2006

‘Yes, journalists in China do have it rough,’ Bullog blogger Siyi says back to a recent BBC article, ‘but we're not all the innocent victims that you seem to think’ in: 中国是记者最大的监狱? 监狱,还是桑拿中心? ‘China is the largest prison for journalists?’ Prison? Or sauna center? BBC 最近一篇文章中说:”The media rights group Reporters...

Barbados: Hair, race & breast cancer

  21 October 2006

A newspaper report on one woman's public hair-shaving in support of breast cancer awareness reminds Titlayo of the extent to which Barbadians are still grappling with issues of race.

Argentina: Smoking Prohibited?

  18 October 2006

Smoking bans have inspired coffee house debates throughout the world. Earlier this month Argentina followed the lead of Uruguay, Spain, and Ukraine by banning smoking in public spaces smaller than 100 square meters. Similar proposals are currently underway in Kenya, Nepal, Germany, and France. But are the bans really effective?...

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Juhie Bhatia
Juhie Bhatia is the Global Health editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.